First 5km Run

In a moment of madness, some weeks ago I signed up to the Race for Life charity 5km run that is taking place at Temple Newsam on 5th June.  Although I've been plodding along with my MPC prep programme, my prep for the race hasn't gone so well due to knee issues.  After some pain and inflammation early in the programme, I deliberately stopped using the treadmill. I have been doing some 20-30 minute sessions on the cross-trainer as a low impact alternative, but I know its not quite the same, so decided to have a go at our local park run.

I thought this was on a Sunday morning and I thought that if I did the Temple Newsam Park Run it would give me a flavour for the course - maybe not the exact route, but the terrain. When I checked online and registered, I found out it was on a Saturday and the Temple Newsam run was not running.  By now though, I'd got it in my head that I wanted to do a practice run so dragged my husband (aka coach) to another nearby park.

This was my firstever running race as well as first ever Park Run. I was really nervous, but that is part of the reason I wanted to do it.  As well as wanting to get a baseline for my performance, I wanted to have at least one experience of race conditions before my official race.

The whole thing was perhaps a mad idea as my legs were still tired from my MPC mountain climb the day before but I made it. There was some walking on the uphill bits, but I ran for about two-thirds of the way. We did three circuits of the course. As other runners lapped me, they shouted words of encouragement, which was nice and slightly irritating at the same time! It was a friendly atmosphere though, and I made it to the finish line.  I felt like I was going to throw up (twice) and pass out (once), but I made it.  

I finished 314th out of 323 so not quite last! My time was 44:31 which is a sub 9 minute/km pace. This is what what I was doing on the treadmill for just 1km, so I'm pleased I could do it for longer.  To be honest I'm happy that (a) I finished and (b) I did it in less than an hour! 

I can't say I really enjoyed it at the time, but I did feel great once it was over.  The next day was agony though as my thigh muscles really did not want to work!  I'm going to try and fit another Park Run in before race day, so hopefully can improve on my walk:run ratio.